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If you want Nintendo Switch games with an explicit 10/10 review mark, these ten are the clearest shortlist. Nintendo Life’s current best-Switch guide gives every pick a “Review 10/10” label, while the lineup covers open-world adventures, platformers, first-person action, fighting games, roguelites and long-form JRPGs. Some are enormous 100-plus-hour commitments; others deliver compact runs or immediately accessible multiplayer. The result is not a ranking from first to tenth, but a set of different answers to “Which Switch game should I buy?”
Which Switch games are actually 10/10?
All ten games below carry an explicit Review 10/10 mark in Nintendo Life’s current guide. Their critical records are not identical, and a 10/10 label is an editorial judgment rather than a universal mathematical score, so the best choice depends on whether you want exploration, story, competition, short sessions or a huge campaign.
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|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 3 March 2017 | Open-world exploration | 97 Switch Metascore |
| Super Mario Odyssey | 27 October 2017 | 3D platforming and discovery | 97 Switch Metascore; Guinness recorded 97.38% from 57 reviews in 2017 |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | 12 May 2023 | Creative open-world problem-solving | 96 Switch Metascore |
| Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | 2022 | Large-scale JRPG storytelling | 100-plus-hour campaign |
| Metroid Dread | 8 October 2021 | Focused 2D action | Metroidvania structure |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 2018 | Competitive and local multiplayer | Definitive-series-scale roster |
| Metroid Prime Remastered | 2023 | First-person exploration | 94 Switch Metascore |
| Persona 5 Royal | 21 October 2022 | Style-heavy, decision-driven JRPG play | Expanded Switch edition |
| Hades | 2020 | Repeatable runs and reactive storytelling | Roguelite structure |
| Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | 2021 | Four-player platforming | Includes the open-world Bowser’s Fury mode |
What makes each game a 10/10 pick?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild is the landmark open-world Zelda: it changed the series’ direction by making curiosity, physics and improvisation central to progression. Its Switch release arrived on 3 March 2017, and its 97 Metacritic score places it among the platform’s most acclaimed games. Choose it when you want an expansive solo adventure where the route and order of discoveries are largely yours.
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey turns 3D platforming into a dense collection of experiments. Cappy’s capture ability lets Mario control enemies and objects, creating new movement options and secrets in every kingdom. Nintendo Life rates it 10/10, and Metacritic lists a 97; Guinness recorded 97.38% from 57 reviews in 2017, the listed Switch critical-acclaim record at that time. TechRadar reviewer Jake Green wrote that it “refines the plumber’s 3D platforming chops expertly.”
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- The Legend of Zelda - Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdom expands Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule with additional layers and construction-focused abilities. Building vehicles, weapons and solutions is not a side gimmick; it is the game’s defining way to approach puzzles and traversal. It released on 12 May 2023 and has a 96 Switch Metascore. Pick it for a more tool-driven, systems-heavy adventure, especially if you enjoy inventing your own solutions.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the epic choice: a large, emotional JRPG with memorable characters, deep combat and a campaign that can exceed 100 hours. Monolith Soft developed it, and Nintendo Life marks it 10/10. Its scale suits players who want a long-term role-playing commitment rather than a game designed for quick completion.
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Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread delivers a tighter, more concentrated adventure. Its 2D map, ability-gated exploration, stealth tension and major boss fights build a classic Metroidvania loop around an escape premise. The Switch release was 8 October 2021. Choose it when you want demanding action and meaningful backtracking without signing up for a sprawling open world.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the multiplayer specialist. It combines every prior fighter with a broad guest roster, extensive customization and enough modes to support both local sessions and serious practice. TechRadar calls it the series’ definitive entry, while Nintendo Life gives it a 10/10. It is the strongest pick here for a group that wants one game to keep returning to together.
Metroid Prime Remastered
Metroid Prime Remastered rebuilds the first-person classic with extensive visual upgrades, modern twin-stick controls and an optional original-style control scheme. Nintendo Life calls the overhaul a new benchmark for remasters, and Metacritic lists a 94 Switch Metascore. It is ideal if you want atmospheric exploration and scanning in a first-person format rather than the side-scrolling structure of Metroid Dread.
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- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom /Switch
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royal combines a stylish presentation, a decision-driven school-and-dungeon structure, a prominent soundtrack and expanded content. The Switch version released on 21 October 2022 and carries Nintendo Life’s 10/10 mark. It rewards players who enjoy managing relationships and schedules as much as turn-based battles, so expect a story-led commitment rather than a pick-up-and-play action game.
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Hades
Hades is the compact, repeatable option. Each run through the underworld changes your combat choices, while conversations and character arcs continue between attempts. Its flexible combat and vibrant art make failure part of the narrative rhythm instead of a hard stop. Supergiant Games is both developer and publisher, and Nintendo Life rates the Switch release 10/10.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
This package pairs a polished four-player 3D platformer with Bowser’s Fury, an open-world mode that adds substantial value beyond the original Wii U release. TechRadar calls it an essential multiplayer purchase, and Nintendo Life marks the package 10/10. It is the most practical choice when couch co-op matters but you also want a solo playground.
Which game should you choose?
Match the game to the experience you want rather than treating the 10/10 labels as interchangeable.
- For open-ended exploration: Breath of the Wild offers the foundational sandbox; Tears of the Kingdom adds construction and more layers.
- For platforming: choose Odyssey for collectible-driven discovery, or 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for local multiplayer.
- For focused action: Metroid Dread is the 2D choice; Metroid Prime Remastered is the first-person alternative.
- For a long RPG: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the largest-scale campaign, while Persona 5 Royal emphasizes social decisions and style.
- For repeatable sessions: Hades makes short runs meaningful through persistent story progress.
- For a group: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate supports competitive matches, while 3D World is built around cooperative platforming.
Is Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom better?
Neither is a universal winner. Breath of the Wild is the cleaner starting point for pure discovery and the series’ open-world reset; Tears of the Kingdom is the more elaborate follow-up, with construction tools and additional layers that reward experimentation. If you have not played either, start with Breath of the Wild for the original structure, then move to Tears of the Kingdom when you want a broader creative toolkit.
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![The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PuJ83o9KL._SL160_.jpg)
- Ultrahand: Using the new Ultrahand ability, Link can pick up, move, and rotate almost any object, and can even attach objects together to create bridges, vehicles, and more!
- Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
- Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
- Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
What does “10/10” mean here?
Here it means Nintendo Life explicitly labels each game “Review 10/10” in its current best-Switch guide. Additional aggregate context supports the standing of several picks: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey each score 97 on Metacritic’s Switch listings, Tears of the Kingdom scores 96, and Metroid Prime Remastered scores 94. Those figures are useful context, but they do not replace the guide’s specific 10/10 editorial standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play these games offline?
The solo campaigns in Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Metroid Dread, Metroid Prime Remastered, Persona 5 Royal and Hades are designed to be playable offline after installation or a physical-card setup. Multiplayer features and online services in games such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate may require a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Which of these is easiest to pick up for a short session?
Hades is the most naturally session-sized because a run can end quickly while story progress carries forward. Super Mario Odyssey and Metroid Dread also support shorter play periods, although both contain longer campaigns when played to completion.
Do I need to play earlier games before Xenoblade Chronicles 3?
You can begin with Xenoblade Chronicles 3 without completing the previous numbered entries. Returning players may notice wider series connections, but the game is structured to provide its own cast, conflict and core systems.
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Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is the most straightforward cooperative recommendation because players share platforming stages and can assist one another. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate offers more competitive depth and customization, but its matches can be more intense for newcomers.
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